Enigmatic variable star V838 Monocerotis is surrounded by the dust it ejected. The star gave off a pulse of light which lit up the dust in 2002 for a brief moment, which is pictured. Although it looks like a nova, the reason for the star's outburst is still unexplained.

The light that travelled directly from the star arrived at Earth first. The light reflected from the dust arrived later, producing the rings around the object.

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